After a Liver Biopsy: How to Care for Your Child

Most children recover easily from a liver biopsy and are back to normal activities soon after the procedure. 

A percutaneous liver biopsy is done by passing a needle through the skin and into the liver to get a small sample of the liver. Your health care provider did a biopsy because your child has abnormal blood tests or other signs that suggest a problem with the liver. A biopsy gives detailed information to help the health care provider know what is going on with the liver. A pathologist (a doctor who works in a special type of lab) will look at the liver sample under a microscope and may do other lab tests.

During the biopsy, your child was given medicine to sleep and not feel pain. The health care provider put a needle into the liver, taking a small sample to send to the lab. Afterward, your child was checked often, and other blood tests might have been done to make sure there were no problems such as bleeding.

It is now safe to take your child home. Your child may have discomfort on the right side near the biopsy site or in the right shoulder. A very small scar will likely remain at the biopsy site.

• Follow your health care provider's instructions for giving acetaminophen for pain.

• Do not give your child medicines such as ibuprofen or naproxen as these may cause trouble with blood clotting.

• Follow the health care provider's instructions for showering. Do not allow your child to take a bath or go swimming until the health care provider says it is OK.

• Your child should avoid heavy lifting, jumping, strenuous activity, contact sports, and rough play for a week while the biopsy site heals.

• Your child should rest when you get home, but he or she should be able to return to school the next day with a letter to be excused from gym or sports.

• Follow up with your health care provider as recommended. The results of the liver biopsy should be available within 1–2 weeks.

Your child:

• Develops pain at the biopsy site or in the shoulder that does not get better with acetaminophen.

• Has bleeding from the biopsy site or severe bruising around the area.

• Has nausea, vomiting, or belly pain.

• Passes stool (poop) that is black or bloody.

• Has a fever over 100.4ºF (38ºC) or other signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, warmth, or pus at the biopsy site.

Your child:

• Has severe pain.

• Develops shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

• Feels an unusual or fast heart rate.

• Develops weakness, lightheadedness, or dizziness.

• Looks pale.